Sun-kissed rocks gleam. Kitterland. That’s its name. A tiny islet in the Calf Sound. It’s a place of legend a place of mystery. Right before you lies this small rocky island. It’s less than four hectares. Imagine the scale. It is smaller than many gardens. Yet Kitterland holds a story. A tale whispered on the wind across the Irish Sea.
Kitterland is significant. It’s owned by the Manx National Trust. It’s rich in birdlife and marine wildlife. It’s uninhabited a haven for nature. It’s part of the parish of Rushen. In Manx Gaelic it’s called Famman Kitterland. This translates to Tail of the Rocky Isle. A fitting name don’t you think?
The legend of Baron Kitter is woven into Kitterland’s very fabric. This Norwegian Baron supposedly ruled the Isle of Man. He hunted the land relentlessly. He killed all the deer bison and elk. He then moved on to the Calf of Man. He continued his relentless hunt there. While hunting his castle on Barrule caught fire. He saw it burning across the water. He tried to return. His boat capsized. He drowned. They say Kitterland marks his watery grave.
Another version of the tale involves a cook named Eaoch. Eaoch of the Loud Voice fell asleep. The witch Ada placed a spell on his cooking pot. It boiled over. The castle was engulfed in flames. Kitter and his friends tried to escape by boat. They were caught in the strong current. They perished. The islet was named in his memory. The Manx people tell many different versions.
The story continues. Kitter’s friends blamed Eaoch for conspiring with the witch. Eaoch faced King Olaf. The king sentenced him to death. Eaoch chose his own execution. He requested his head be severed with the king’s sword. The legendary sword Macabuin. It could cut through granite. The witch Ada intervened saving the king’s life using toad skins.
Kitterland. A small island. A big story. A mix of legend history and nature. It’s a place where the past whispers. It’s a place to contemplate the power of nature. And the enduring power of a good story. Stand here and feel the legend. Feel the wind. Feel the history of Kitterland.